~~~
After a delicious meal and good company at Lily and Carrik’s home, Daniel started to get a little antsy.
“You alright?” Avaleigh asked quietly.
Daniel nodded, and flashed a quick smile that he didn’t really feel.
“He’s worrying about his little girl,” Carrik said.
Avaleigh smiled at him and leaned her head against his shoulder before hugging his arm to her chest briefly. “She’s fine.”
“I know,” he said, trying to convince himself of that very thing.
“Doesn’t help, though, does it?” Carrik asked.
Daniel looked at Carrik for several moments, considering his answer. Finally, he decided to go for full disclosure. “No, it really doesn’t.”
“I’d like to tell you it gets easier, but it doesn’t. Every evening as things are winding down around here, I wonder if Tempest had a good day. I worry that something didn’t go right that I wasn’t there to fix for her. I wonder if someone said something to her that made the little girl inside her hurt even for a little while. And now that she’s got Eli, I worry about her not getting enough rest, or needing just a minute or two to herself and Brandt being at work at just that moment. Lives change, her life changes, their lives change, but nothing will ever stop her from being your little girl, or you from being her dad. It’s just part of it, and it will never, ever go away.”
“Gee, thanks. That’s encouraging, really,” Daniel said with a certain amount of snark.
Carrik laughed. “Isn’t it, though?”
“Okay! That’s done,” Lily said, walking back into the room.
“What’s done?” Carrik asked.
“Elijah’s crib is set up in Tempest’s bedroom where Tempest and Brandt will be sleeping, and that leaves the extra bedroom for you two,” Lily said, smiling at Avaleigh and Daniel.
“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” Avaleigh said. “But thank you so much.”
“Tell you what we do have to do, and that is take you to Boon’s house before it gets too late,” Carrik said.
“After that story about Destroy following Brandt around shouting cold or hot as Brandt wandered looking for Tempest, I’m thinking someone showing us directly where we’re going is the best choice,” Daniel said with a laugh. “I have to admit, I’d have paid money to see that.”
“It’s not real funny while it’s happening,” Brandt said.
Daniel laughed.
“Well, let’s go over and see the house. They’ve had a little alone time. Let’s join them,” Carrik said, getting to his feet.
At exactly that moment Elijah started crying.
“Told you he doesn’t nap much,” Tempest said, getting up to go get her son.
Brandt got up and made a quick check of the diaper bag that was still sitting in the living room.
“Everything there?” Avaleigh asked.
“Yep! Good to go,” Brandt said.
“Isn’t that right?” Tempest cooed at Eli as she walked up the hallway and into the living room.
“We can just stay here if you’d prefer,” Lily said.
“No, I think the fresh air would do him good. Besides, he loves being outside,” Tempest said.
“Well, let’s go then,” Lily said.
